not going out - "not going in" (rough draft #3)

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NOT GOING OUT - “Not Going In”BY M.L. ZAMBRANA

ROUGH DRAFT SPEC SCRIPT #3 - 18 November 2011

LOGLINE: Tim catches Lee and Lucy coming out of Lucy’s bedroom in the morning and thinks they’ve slept together--something that neither Lee nor Lucy will discuss.

CASTLEE - LEE MACKTIM - TIM VINE

LUCY - SALLY BRETTONDAISY - KATY WIX

ROBERT - DAVID MITCHELL

ACT I, SCENE ONE - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

There is a knock at the door. The door lock rattles, and TIM and DAISY ENTER. TIM puts the door key back in his pocket.

DAISYTim, are you sure that we should be walking in to Lucy’s flat like this?

TIMWhy not?

DAISYI don’t know. It seems rude, walking in

when they‘re not here.

TIMIt’s not rude. She’s my sister. We’re family. We do things like this. (calls

out) Lucy! There you are.

LUCY ENTERS from the bedroom, wearing a short nightgown with her robe open. She quickly ties it up to cover herself.

LUCYTim! What are you doing here? How did

you get in?

TIMI have a key, of course. I came by to pick up that DVD rental that I loaned

you. It‘s due today.

DAISYWhich one was it, again?

LUCY“Howard the Duck.” To Tim, that’s a

classic.

TIMIt’s the overlooked gem in the Touchstone Films collection.

LUCY begins pushing TIM towards the door, with DAISY following.

LUCYTim, I sent it out yesterday so it’s all sorted. Now will you please just get

out?

TIMWhat’s going on? Have you got company, then? (winks) Some Lothario worked his

magic last night, did he?

LEE ENTERS from the bedroom, wearing a bath towel around his waist.

LEEOh, hello, Tim--

TIM stares at the two of them, lets out a squawk, and then TIM punches LEE, then rushes out of the flat.

CUT TO

OPENING CREDITS

FADE OUT

FADE IN

ACT I, SCENE TWO - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

LEE is on the sofa. Lucy is holding an ice pack against his bruised eye.

DAISY ENTERS the living room with a glass of water and aspirin for LEE. She puts the aspirin in his hand, hands over the glass, then sits down and touches his shoulder.

DAISYOh, Lee! I’m so sorry about this. I’ve never seen him act this way before.

LUCYUnfortunately, I have. When he was

sixteen, he had a crush on a local girl called Lidia Jenkins. One day he came outside and two boys had her pressed up

in between them. He lost his head, stepped up and took a swing at the

nearest boy.

DAISYOh, so he defended her honor! That’s

sweet.

LUCYActually, no, they were paying her to do

that. Turns out she was the local prostitute. But Tim didn’t know that. And those two boys beat the living sh--

LEECan we just leave off with the Tim

discussion for a minute, please? I’m the one with the concussion, here.

LUCYOh, don’t exaggerate. The punch didn’t

knock you out. You just lost your footing. He got lucky.

LEEAt least somebody did this morning. It

certainly wasn’t me.

DAISY stands up and gives Lee a quick hug.

DAISYPoor Lee.

LEE(to Lucy)

See? Now that’s the kind of sympathy I’m looking for.

DAISYIt’s all right. I understand how you must feel. But you can always try the

lottery tomorrow, right?

LUCYOf course he can, Daisy. There’s always

tomorrow.

LEE and LUCY exchange a glance as DAISY EXITS.

LEEWow. It’s incredible how she leaves and

the air returns to a room.

LUCY(with a sigh)

This was hardly the way to spend our first morning together, was it?

LEE

Ha. Does this even count as our first morning?

LUCYIf you want it to. I do. Lee--

LEECan we just not discuss it? Please? It’s bad enough that I’ve got your brother’s girly knuckles imprinted on my forehead.

I’d just as soon not talk about… anything else.

LUCYAll right. For now. But we’ll have to eventually. Meanwhile, I think you

should go and talk to Tim. Until you do, he’s not going to let this blow over.

LEELucy, I was the one who got hit! He

should be apologizing to ME. Though I am willing to accept cash instead.

LUCYHa. Now I know you’ve been hanging

around Tim too long. You sound just like him. Or like a woman.

LEESame thing. Just different underwear.

LUCYActually, there was this one time he--

LEENo, no, no. Don’t say it. I’d like to think that some decade, I’ll be able to

get an erection again.

LUCY nods.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT ONE, SCENE THREE - INT. - PUB

TIM is seated at the bar when LEE ENTERS. TIM and LEE stare at one another. LEE sits.

TIMLook who’s arrived. Casanova himself.

LEEIs that what you think, eh?

TIMYou came out of her bedroom in a towel, Lee. Somehow, I doubt that you got lost on your way to take a shower. (pause) Although from Daisy, I’d believe it. (pause) All right, I must admit, I may have overreacted. I thought I’d be comfortable with the idea of you two

being together.

LEEYou’re not comfortable with air

fresheners in cars.

TIMCould you blame me? I didn’t mean to rear-end that lorry, but one whiff of jasmine and I’m drifting down a country lane. The last thing I need in a vehicle

is an olfactory distraction.

LEEBest to avoid long car journeys with me,

then.

TIMSo are you here to apologize?

LEEFor what? Going to bed with Lucy?

TIMDo you have to put it like that?

LEEWhat do you want me to say? “She was one great shag, your sister. I can’t wait to

do your mum”? (shivers) Ew. I can’t even joke about that. Makes me crawl up.

TIMThanks for the visual. Look, do you want me to be even more cross with you than I

already am?

LEEWhy? What’s it going to be next time?

Left cross or right cross?

TIMI need some time to process this.

LEEYou needed some time to process the

Harry Potter films.

TIM EXITS.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT ONE, SCENE FOUR - INT. - RESTAURANT

TIM and DAISY are having lunch.

DAISYSo are you and Lee having a row, then?

TIMNo, Daisy. Things are just a bit tense. It’ll blow over when Lee realizes he‘s

in the wrong.

DAISYIt’s just that I’ve never seen you so…

irrational.

TIMI’m NOT being irrational.

DAISYYes, you are. I mean, what if I just

happened to come out of a room with Lee

wearing nothing but a towel? You wouldn’t think we’d been--

TIMOf course not! Besides, that’s an absurd

scenario.

DAISYWell, not Lee, then. But what about

Robert? My old boyfriend?

TIMOh, don’t be ridiculous. Under what

circumstances would you two ever be in the same room together?

DAISYWell, I do see him every week.

TIMYou what?

DAISYHe’s my therapist. You know. I’ve told

you.

TIMYou’ve told me that you go to a

therapist. You never said anything about Robert being the doctor. (chuckles and

sings the name) “Doctor Robert.”

DAISYSorry?

TIM(serious)

Daisy, you’re going out with me now. You shouldn’t be having any kind of

relationship with your ex.

DAISYActually, I was thinking we both should

be with him.

TIMI beg your pardon?!?

DAISYGroup therapy. The three of us can sit

down, talk about things…

TIMI suppose at the very least, I’ll get to meet this “Robert.” So since he’s your ex, do we at least get a free session?

DAISYI don’t know. He’s changed his rates. I might have to sleep with him for that.

TIM smiles, thinking it’s a joke, then grows worried when DAISY looks back at him with no indication in her face that she was joking.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT II, SCENE ONE - INT. - DOCTOR ROBERT’S OFFICE

TIM and DAISY ENTER. ROBERT looks up from his desk and smiles.

ROBERTAh, you’re on time. That’s good. Daisy is always punctual, but I wasn’t sure if

perhaps you had… corrupted her.

There is a touch of menace in ROBERT’S voice that makes TIM visibly nervous. DAISY sits and after a moment of hesitation, so does TIM.

ROBERTPlease. Have a seat.

TIMThank you, uh, Robert.

ROBERTVery nice to finally meet you, Tim. I

take it that you’re agreeable to therapy?

TIMNot at all, actually. But I wanted to get a good look at the man that used to

be in Daisy’s life.

ROBERTThat’s a forthright confession. Daisy called and told me about the incident with your friend Lee and your sister Lucy this morning. And I have to say, it’s quite interesting that wasn’t the first thing out of your mouth. Your

first remark began with the words, “I wanted.”

TIM“Incident”?

ROBERTThe sexual encounter between your sister

and her boyfriend--

TIMLee is NOT her boyfriend! He’s her

lodger.

DAISYTim sold the flat to Lucy, you see, and Lee’s been living there for a while. Before Lucy, Lee was there with Kate.

Tim’s ex-girlfriend.

ROBERTInteresting. And did they have a

relationship?

TIMOnly as flatmates.

ROBERTSo you’ve had your best friend residing

with not only your ex but with your sister. Keeping an eye on them, are you? Keeping everything “Tim” under one roof?

TIM

Things have just worked out that way. It’s not as if I planned it. I’m not…

possessive!

ROBERTNo, of course not.

TIMWhat’s that supposed to mean?

ROBERTNothing. But you do seem to be hostile at the very suggestion. And it wasn’t even my suggestion--it was your own. As was the remark about coming to “get a good look” at me on Daisy’s behalf.

TIMDaisy, we’re going.

ROBERT, DAISY and TIM stand.

TIMI don’t care for your tone, Doctor, nor do I care for your implications. Next thing you know, you’ll be saying that

I’m treating Daisy badly.

ROBERTReally? It’s funny how all these ideas

spring to mind even though I’m not suggesting them. Perhaps that is your underlying problem. Perhaps you need to

know how to treat a woman.

TIMIf you knew how, you never would’ve lost

her in the first place. Would you?

ROBERTShe’s still here, isn’t she? Seeing me

every week?

ROBERT and TIM glare at each other. ROBERT returns to his

office, TIM EXITS. DAISY sighs and follows TIM.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT II, SCENE TWO - INT. - OUTSIDE ROBERT’S OFFICE

(insert fight between Daisy and Tim--mostly on Tim‘s part, Daisy just listening)

DISSOLVE TO

ACT II, SCENE THREE - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

DAISY and LUCY are drinking tea on the sofa.

(insert dialogue between DAISY and LUCY - reference argument)

LEE ENTERS.

LEESorry, girls. Just came back for my

coat.

LUCYLee, wait a moment. (in a low voice) Why do I get the feeling that you’re

avoiding me?

LEEI, uh--

LUCYYou are, aren’t you?

LEE(to Daisy)

I’ll see you later.

DAISYBye!

LUCY watches as LEE EXITS.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT III, SCENE ONE - INT. - ROBERT’S OFFICE

ROBERT and DAISY ENTER the office. ROBERT closes the door and the two sit down.

ROBERTI’m glad you called.

DAISYIt’s been such an odd morning. I need to

talk about it.

ROBERTNo Tim, then? He’s off sulking, is he?

DAISYOh, I’m sure it will blow over.

ROBERTWhy would you go out with a man like

that, Daisy?

DAISYI like Tim. He’s not come off very well today, but he’s actually quite nice.

ROBERT

(insert attempted reconciliation, Daisy’s rejection of Robert)

DAISY EXITS.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT III, SCENE THREE - INT. - PUB

TIM and LEE are at the bar.

LEEYou are a nosy bastard, you know. Always

have been.

TIMWhere my sister is concerned, I will

admit to being a bit--

LEENosy.

TIMNo. Concerned.

LEEIf you were really concerned, you’d be talking to her right now and not trying

to get on my d--

TIMAll right! No need for that kind of

language.

LEEWhere’s Daisy.

TIMShe’s with that ex of hers this morning for an appointment. Robert. We’ve never had secrets between us. I still don’t understand why she didn’t she tell me

that she was having weekly sessions with him.

LEEWhat, she’s going to tell the man who punched out his sister’s flatmate that

she’s been seeing her ex?

TIMI’d never hurt Daisy, Lee. And I resent

the implication.

LEEResent it all you’d like. But clearly in the heat of the moment, you don’t know

how to restrain yourself.

TIMApparently I’m not the only one. So what

did you do to get Lucy in to bed? Did you get my sister drunk, or was there a

lot of begging involved?

LEEWhy? Is that what you did?

TIM gets to his feet.

LEEWhat are you going to do, Tim? Hit me

again? Over a JOKE?

TIM pulls back his fist but LEE doesn’t flinch. TIM stares at LEE, begins shaking with suppressed emotion, then EXITS.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT III, SCENE FOUR - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

LUCY hears a knock at the door and opens it to find TIM standing there. TIM ENTERS.

TIMHi. Um…

LUCYWhat is it?

TIMOh, nothing. Just that Daisy’s left.

LUCYAre you sure you didn’t just leave the

door open and she wandered off?

TIMIt’s not funny. She’s left me, Lucy.

Honestly.

LUCYOh, I am sorry, Tim.

TIM

It’s my own fault. Well, I don’t even know if it’s my fault, or her ex-

boyfriend, really. Or maybe this is what Daisy wants. All I know is that she’s

gone now.

LUCYI don’t know what to say. But I’ve got an idea. How about if I go down to the corner and get us a pizza? We haven’t

done that in a long while, Tim. Just you and me, sitting around, sharing a

moment. And a pizza.

TIMYou’re hungry, aren’t you?

LUCYStarving!

TIM(smiling)

I’d like that very much, then. Thank you, Lucy.

LUCY smiles, gives TIM a quick kiss and EXITS.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT III, SCENE FIVE - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

TIM is sitting on the sofa, waiting for LUCY to return. LEE cracks open the door, peers around, then ENTERS and hangs up his coat.

LEELucy’s not here, I take it?

TIMShe’s gone out for pizza. Why? Are you

avoiding her?

LEEI’d have to say that’s none of your

business Tim.

TIMLook, Lee, I--I am genuinely sorry about what happened this morning. And at the

pub. I lost my head.

LEEYou’re sorry? Really? Or are you just saying that because Lucy told you to?

TIMShe has said nothing about me having to

apologize.

LEEIt was Daisy that told you to do it,

then, was it?

TIM(long pause)

Daisy and I have split up. She said she… couldn’t be around a man with a temper.

LEEWell, being with you, she didn’t have to worry about being around a man. (pause)

With a temper.

TIMAll right. I know I’ve earned some

abuse. I was taken by surprise, Lee. I didn’t expect this, and I just wanted to

know what was going on?

LEEWhat, in the two seconds before you punched me? You were going to play Inspector Morse and find out what we

were up to, is that it?

ACT III, SCENE SIX - INT. - HALLWAY

LUCY returns with the pizza, then hesitates as she hears LEE’S voice. She steps to the side of the door, out of sight, and listens.

CUT TO

ACT III, SCENE SEVEN - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

LEE steps closer to TIM.

LEEYou want to know how it went, then?

TIMI’m not listening.

LEE grabs TIM by the arm and turns TIM towards him, then lets go and points a finger at his face.

LEEOh, no, you’re listening! If you want to stick your nose into our lives, then

I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything. I’ll tell you how Lucy and

I first kissed one another in the kitchen. Then we moved on to the sofa for a little groping. We took off each other‘s clothes. And then we went in to

her bedroom. And can you guess what happened there?

TIMOh, I KNOW what happened there--

LEENo, you don‘t know. You don’t know

because you didn’t see what you think you saw. Because NOTHING happened, Tim!

Absolutely NOTHING!

LEE spins suddenly and kicks the table, sending it across the room. LEE turns back to TIM.

LEEIt’s not the first time in my life I

haven’t been able to get it up. And I’m

not ashamed to say that. But it was the worst possible time, because whatever else you might think of me, you need to know this. I genuinely care about Lucy. I care about her more than any other

woman I‘ve ever known, and I wanted our first night together in bed to be an easy, comfortable thing. Natural.

Because it IS natural. After all this time with us living together, it should be MORE than natural. But that wasn‘t

our luck, was it?

TIM So… nothing happened? Well, that’s a

relief.

LEEA RELIEF?!? You selfish bastard. Here you’ve been walking around all day,

telling me that I’ve let you down as a friend when it’s Lucy that I’ve REALLY disappointed. Oh, but let’s not have TIM feeling bad about the situation, eh? We

can’t have THAT!

TIMLee…

LEENever mind the rest of us. Good old Tim,

he’s the one who’s got to be looked after.

TIMLee.

LEE(sullenly)

What?

TIM hugs LEE. After a moment, Lee hugs him back.

TIMI know you don’t want to hear this, but

I’m going to say it any way, you bastard. I love you.

LEEOh, get stuffed.

TIM smiles and hugs him harder. They pull apart and LEE wipes his face.

LEELook, I’ve got to take a nap. I’m

exhausted. Lucy should be home soon. I’ll be in the bedroom. MY bedroom.

(points at TIM) And no, that’s not an invitation.

TIMI certainly hope not. You snore.

Probably drool, too.

LEEAnd I had curry for lunch. Care to go

for a drive?

TIMDefinitely not. I’ll see you later.

LEE turns and walks towards his bedroom. LUCY ENTERS and puts one finger to her lips as LEE EXITS. TIM and LUCY wait a moment until they hear the door close.

TIMYou heard all that, then?

LUCYAbout from where he told you what--

didn’t happen. Yea.

TIMYou couldn’t have told me?

LUCYI didn’t want to embarrass Lee. This has

been hard for him.

TIMNot hard enough, apparently. But Lee’s right, you know. God, I never thought I‘d say THOSE words… but I AM a selfish and nosy bastard. I’ve made a right mess of everything, Lucy. I’ve hurt you, I’ve hurt Lee, I’ve ruined my relationship

with Daisy…

DAISY ENTERS.

DAISYYou haven’t ruined anything. You might

have tried, but you haven’t.

TIMDaisy! I thought for sure… you and

Robert…

DAISYTim. Shut up. And come here.

TIM and DAISY hug. LUCY smiles.

LUCYSo what about Robert the Doctor?

DAISYDoctor who?

TIM smiles, and TIM and DAISY EXIT arm in arm.

DISSOLVE TO

ACT III, SCENE EIGHT - INT. - LUCY’S FLAT

It is evening. LUCY is in her pajamas on the sofa. LEE ENTERS from the kitchen with a mug in his hand and sits with her.

LEEIt’s been one very strange day, hasn’t

it? I’m glad it’s over.

LUCYMe, too. How’s your eye?

LEEIt’s fine. Your brother hits like a

girl. I’d say that he walks like one, too, but then I’d probably end up with

boot in my backside.

LUCY nods towards the bedroom and gives LEE a gentle smile.

LUCYSo… should we…?

LEEYou know what, Lucy? I think it’s best

if I sleep in my own room.

LUCYThe lock‘s been changed. There’s no

chance of Tim walking in on us again.

LEEOh, and I was so looking forward to

another morning of physical abuse, too!

LUCYIf you come to bed, I’ll see what I can do about that. Handcuffs, or whips and

chains?

LEEWhat? You mean I have to choose?

LUCYWell, maybe not.

LEEOooh, you are quite the temptress. But

not tonight.

LUCYLet me guess. You’re using the woman’s

excuse. You have a headache.

LEEIt’s not my head that’s hurting. It’s my

heart.

LEE touches LUCY’S cheek. LUCY hugs LEE. They kiss.

LUCYGood night, Lee.

LEEGood night, Lucy.

LEE and LUCY EXIT to their respective bedrooms. After a moment, LEE crosses back over to LUCY’S bedroom.

LEEOh, who am I kidding?

LEE EXITS to LUCY’S bedroom.

END

not going out - "not going in" (rough draft #3)

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